ON THE BOOKSHELF:
100 Inventions That Shaped World History
by Bill Yenne, Morton, Dr. Grosser (Editor) / Paperback - 112 pages (1983) / Bluewood Books 
This book contains inventions from all around the world from microchips to fire. This is a really good book if you are going to do research on inventions.
Brainstorm!: The Stories of Twenty American Kid Inventors
by Tom Tucker, Richard Loehle / Paperback - 144 pages  / Sunburst (1998)
The stories of twenty ingenious young Americans who have filed patents with the United States Patent Office, including Chester Greenwood who invented ear muffs, Ralph Samuelson, originator of water-skiing, and Vanessa Hess who created colored car wax.
The Evolution of Useful Things
by Henry Petroski / Paperback - 288 pages Reprint edition (March 1994) / Vintage Books
This surprising book may appear to be about the simple things of life--forks, paper clips, zippers--but in fact it is a far-flung historical adventure on the evolution of common culture.
Panati’s Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things
by Charles Panati / Paperback - 480 pages Reissue edition (September 1989) / HarperCollins
Discover the fascinating stories behind the origins of over 500 everyday items, expressions and customs.
Mistakes That Worked
by Charlotte Foltz Jones, John O'Brien (Illustrator) / Paperback - 48 pages (1994) / Doubleday
Recounting the fascinating stories behind the accidental inventions of forty familiar objects and products. 
Mr. Blue Jeans : A Story About Levi Strauss
Maryann N. Weidt, Lydia M. Anderson (Illustrator) / Paperback - 64 pages / First Avenue Editions
Basic values shine stronger than the famous copper rivets in the sturdy denim pants as the story of the Strauss family and company unfolds
Necessity's Child: The Story of Walter Hunt, America's Forgotten Inventor
by Joseph Nathan Kane / Hardcover: 330 pages / McFarland & Company (August 1997)
A narrative account of the life of the less-known inventor who gave us the safety pin, sewing machine, and fountain pen, among other devices.
Why Didn't I Think of That?: Bizarre Origins of Ingenious Inventions We Couldn't Live Without
by Allyn Freeman, Bob Golden (Contributor) / Paperback - 224 pages (1997) / John Wiley & Sons
Inventions chronicles the odd origins of famous products, explores how these inventions changed our lives, and reveals the business side of their production and distribution.

ON THE WEB:
Ben Franklin's Inventions
A list of Benjamin Franklin's inventions reveals a man of many talents and interests. It was the scientist in Ben that brought out the inventor. His natural curiosity about things and the way they work made him try to find ways to make them work better.
(URL: sln.fi.edu/franklin/inventor/inventor.html)
Chester Greenwood Day - December 21st
Chester Greenwood Day shall commemorate and honor Chester Greenwood, whose inventive genius and native ability, which contributed much to the enjoyment of Maine's winter season, marked him as one of Maine's outstanding citizens.
(URL: janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/1/title1sec117.html)
National Inventors Hall of Fame
George de Mestral Born Jun 19 1907 - Died Feb 8 1990) was inducted in 1999 for his invention Velvet Type Fabric and Method of Producing the Same Velcro. Patent Number 2,717,437
(URL: www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/37.html)
Once Rebellious, Denim Now Mainstream
Whatever its origin, denim has always been vital to the cotton industry. Consider this recent finding from the publication, Cotton Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor: Seven out of 10 Americans say jeans are their first pick for casual wear. Article by Michael Quintanilla for the San Antonio Express-News
(URL: www.mysanantonio.com/salife/fashion/stories/MYSA102705.1P.jeans.98abce8.html)
Patent for Safety Pin Issued April 10, 1849
A New Yorker invents a handy device
(URL: www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/speeches/02-25.htm)